7 Resources for Leaders during Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in US history. Black History month represents an important opportunity to recommit to lifelong learning by seeking out new educational sources and narratives.

To support you on your leadership journey this February, and all year, check out these resources for leaders:

Article: The Reason Black History Month Is in February (TIME)

Why do we celebrate Black History month in February each year? In this primer, you’ll learn about the history of Harvard-educated historian Carter G. Woodson, who is credited with creating Black History Month, and the month’s connection to two important historical figures: President Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Article: 26 Black Americans You Don’t Know But Should (Oprah Magazine)

Educators, activists and historians have long been focusing on an important question: Why are so many African Americans missing from our nation’s curriculum and public awareness? In this interactive article, learn about Black trailblazers and leaders like Claudette Colvin, Alice Coachman or Shirley Chisholm, and understand their contributions.

Video: Kimberlé Crenshaw’s TED Talk – “The Urgency of Intersectionality”

Intersectionality describes the negative impact of the overlapping or intersecting of social identities, including race, gender, sexuality and class. Kimberlé Crenshaw coined this term and its study, and her transformative TED Talk includes a call to boldly look at the reality of race and gender bias.

Report: Women in the Workplace (LeanIn)

As organizations work to support and advance women leaders and create diverse leadership pipelines, it is critically important to understand the new reality faced by Black women in a new world changed by COVID-19. Women continue to be disproportionately impacted, personally and professionally, by this unprecedented health crisis, but Black women face distinct challenges. LeanIn’s Women in the Workplace report finds that Black women are almost twice as likely as women overall to say that they can’t bring their whole selves to work and more than 1.5 times as likely to say they don’t have strong allies.

Virtual experience: Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture

“I want to be remembered as a person who felt there was no limitation to what the human body and mind can do and be the inspiration to lead people to do things they never hoped to do.” – CARL LEWIS, Olympic Gold Medalist

While traveling to experience relevant exhibitions isn’t possible right now, you can experience virtual exhibits from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Learn about the life and accomplishments of Carl Lewis, Olympic gold medalist. Discover the stories of Black LGBTQ+ scholars, activists and artists who are still largely unknown, including Marsha P. Johnson and Joseph F. Beam. And, the African American Military Experience conveys a sense of appreciation and respect for the military service of African Americans, from the American Revolution to the War on Terror.

Article: The Changing Definition of African American (Smithsonian Magazine)

In this article, explore how the great influx of people from Africa and the Caribbean since 1965 is challenging what it means to be African American.

Related Post: 10 Resources for Fighting Racism | Videos, Books, Guides & More (Linkage)

This list of resources—including videos, books, guides and more—is designed as a helpful toolkit for leaders looking to take antiracist action and expand their understanding of race, racism and privilege in America.